(08-14-2021, 10:48 AM)F Gump Wrote: Simmons' ability on defense has nothing to do with whether he is of any value on offense. Neither does what KP is or isn't doing.
And you can't call it overreacting, when that's the response of his own team. They (a) decided he wasn't playable when games count, and (b) want to get rid of him.
At one time, the idea was that he would work his way out of the flaws, and get better. Unfortunately, it's gone the opposite direction, with what appears to be a lack of concern, and they have gradually become worse and worse.
The issue is, where do you even play him on offense? Spot up shooter off the ball? No. Slasher? No, afraid of being fouled. Midrange? No, he won't shoot the ball from farther away than 10 feet. Or sometimes at all. Play center next to the basket? He won't. Screen setter for Luka? That just brings a double-team on Luka, because no one will honor his shot.
That's not a max player.
Unfortunately, until some of that is solved, that's exactly right. He's not a max player, he's just paid like one. If you would like to keep Luka having clear driving lanes, you will need someone with some gravity on the court.
Right now, Simmons is pretty on par with Dwight Powell as a 3 point shooter, and Powell has basically stopped taking them last year. That's where a lot of people think you can put him in the dunker spot as a roll guy in a P-n-R. Problem solved right? No.
The difference is that Powell is a 78% FT shooter in the regular season and he goes UP in the playoffs to 83%, where Simmons is a worse FT shooter in the regular season and goes DOWN in the playoffs, generally.
And Powell makes what again? 11 million dollars, literally 1/3 the salary of Simmons ($33 million). He's got handles, but I'm not sure we can give him the ball enough on the offensive end to make up the difference. I am BY NO MEANS saying that Powell is the comp with him all over the court...not at all. I'm just looking at him in the dunker's spot on offense, if there will even be one of those with Kidd. Who knows?
One added bonus if we got Simmons that no one has talked about...he's practically the only guy in the league that has shown remote success at giving Luka problems one on one. Him being on our team would be great for 2 regular season games a year and if we met Philly in the NBA Finals.
"There are no friends on the court." - Luka Doncic